TEACHING

John has designed and taught four courses at The University of Michigan, Miami University (Ohio), and Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. These include:

“The History of College Athletics,” at the University of Michigan John created this course on the uniquely American phenomenon of college athletics for U-M’s American Culture and History departments.

We’ve become so accustomed to watching nationally televised football and basketball games played before packed stadiums on college campuses we rarely stop to wonder how this institution ever came into being. No other nation, not even Canada, takes college sports seriously. Why do we?

The student evaluations gave both the course and professor a score of 4.98 out of 5.00, the University’s highest. The course has the longest wait list on campus.

“The Rise and Fall of American Sportswriting,” University of Michigan and Miami University (Ohio). Sports do not exist in a vacuum. In America, arguably more than in any other society, sports have reflected our values and our times, and quite often, have actually served as the catalyst for sweeping changes. As a result, the messengers of this medium – in this case, the sportswriters and broadcasters – have taken on a vital role. “The Rise and Fall of the American Sportswriter” will examine five phases to explain the vital role sportswriters played in the crucial early years of American sport, and how that role has grown and changed, right up to the present day.

This course has the second-longest wait list on Michigan’s campus, behind Bacon’s first course.

“The Art and Craft of Sportswriting,” Miami University (Ohio), and Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism.Bacon designed this course for honors journalism students to teach them how to report and write game stories, profiles, features, and columns.

TEACHING AWARDS

In 2009, John won Michigan’s Golden Apple award, given by the students to the University’s top teacher.

SPEAKING

Bacon delivers speeches to corporations, universities and other groups drawing on the themes and stories from his books. Interested in having him speak at your event?